Predestined Meeting Part 4

The cold wind howled over the desolate landscape, whipping my hair across my face as I stared in disbelief at the sight before me. Sunshine perched on my shoulder, her wings fluttering nervously. There are no ruins. All I can see is an absurdly vast and ominous crater that stretches out endlessly, covered in dense, dark mist.

"By the Gods..." Sunshine said, her gaze fixed straight ahead, seeing the shocking view.

I recalled the tales I had heard about Zrephia since childhood, of a city revered as the pinnacle of human advancement, especially in the magical arts. It had served as the capital of humanity, a place of wonder and power. Now, only this bleak, forsaken landscape remained.

"Stories claim it was the Princess of Calamity who destroyed Zrephia," I said. I don't know if, for myself or Sunshine, "It's incredible that one person could have so much power to do something like this."

Sunshine shivered, clinging closer to my neck, "How could one person wield such power? To reduce an entire city to... this?"

I shook my head, unable to fathom the answer. The devastation around us seemed impossible, yet there it lay, a testament to a terrifying **** beyond our comprehension.

"Dox, what do we do now?" Sunshine asked, her voice trembling, "The ruins are nowhere in sight. How can we find Zaine? Are we even sure this is the right place?"

I furrowed my brow, my gaze locked on the swirling black clouds at the bottom of the crater. Streaks of dark lightning danced through the mist like serpents, casting eerie shadows.

"Zaine is here," I said with certainty, feeling her presence deep within the crater, "I think she is down there."

Sunshine's eyes widened, her grip on my shoulder tightening, "Y-You mean... go into that? It looks so... ominous."

"The remains of the ancient city must lie concealed beneath the clouds. It's the only explanation." I pointed at the churning mist.

Her eyes followed my finger, narrowing as she studied the scene before us, "I think you are right..." She admitted, a shiver running through her tiny frame, "T-There's no other choice, is there?"

"No," I said grimly, "If we want to save Zaine, we must go down there."

"Alright, then!" Sunshine yelled, her voice filled with determination despite her fear, "Let's do this, Dox. After that, let's go to the ancient forest!"

"Right," I agreed, taking a deep breath as I prepared for the descent, "Stay close and be careful."

"Of course!"

After we found a way to go down, taking our first tentative steps toward the edge of the crater, we began our descent. With each passing moment, the air grew heavier, pressing down on us like an unseen weight. The black clouds swirled around us, crackling with loud thunder that echoed through the desolate landscape, making Sunshine flinch.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Y-Yeah," She stammered, "Just a little creeped out, is all."

A strange familiarity washed over me as we ventured deeper into the crater. The air was thick with mana, an immense, almost overwhelming presence that filled every inch of the space. It felt... familiar.

"Sunshine," I said, my voice barely audible above the crackle of the dark lightning, "Do you feel that?"

"Feel what?" She replied, shifting nervously on my shoulder.

"The mana," I explained, "It's so... powerful and dense.

"Y-You're right," Sunshine gasped, "I didn't notice it before, but now that you mention it, the air feels heavy."

After thinking for a moment, I realize it feels exactly like the world of darkness where Zaine is trapped. In that realm, the mana had been boundless, allowing me to train without end, drawing on the vast reserves surrounding me. In this forsaken place, the mana felt just as dense, just as interminable. I wonder if one is linked to the other.

As we continued descending, the dark clouds dispersed, revealing a breathtaking sight that unfolded before me: the ruins of a once colossal ancient city sprawled across the crater floor. Sunshine and I stood there, shocked at the sight before us. Once majestic and imposing, crumbled stone structures now lay half-buried beneath a carpet of dirt. But also, some massive, shattered structures loomed in the darkness, their broken forms casting eerie shadows that danced with the occasional flash of lightning.

"Darx, I've never seen anything like this," Sunshine whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

"Neither have I," I admitted, "It's hard to believe that such a place existed."

Even though I wanted to continue seeing the incredible and shocking view, we had to continue going down. We cautiously continued our descent into the crater, carefully navigating the treacherous terrain and oppressive darkness surrounding us. As we almost reached the bottom, the ruined city revealed more of its secrets – crumbling statues, twisted metal, and something similar to broken glass, although it looked a little different.

Once at the bottom, we walked through the decimated remains of Zrephia, navigating fragments of ancient structures buried in rubble.

"Darx, this place is giving me the creeps," Sunshine confessed, her wings fluttering nervously as she stayed close to my side.

"Stay close to me," I replied, my voice steady despite the unease I felt creeping up inside me, "We'll find Zaine and get out of this place as quickly as possible."

As we continued our journey deeper into the ruins, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread, as if something malevolent was lurking in the darkness, waiting to pounce at any moment.

Then, amid the destruction, I spotted a single tower standing tall, far in the distance, untouched by the devastation. Its lonely silhouette loomed over the broken landscape, looking out of place. A powerful certainty rose within me—this was where Zaine was held.

"Sunshine, look," I said, pointing toward the tower, "That's where we need to go. I can feel it."

"Are you sure, Dox?" She asked hesitantly, her eyes wide with fear.

"Absolutely," I answered with conviction. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

As we advanced toward the tower, the air thickened with a sinister energy that seemed to pulse from the tower itself. Sunshine clung closer to me, visibly shaken by the unnatural atmosphere. Halfway there, a terrifying and powerful presence abruptly washed over us—the same feeling I had experienced in Dagrol's fortress. It was approaching at an overwhelming speed.

"DOX!" Sunshine, who also felt it, screamed, looking even more scared.

"Sunshine, quickly! Get into the medallion!" I urged her, my voice tense with urgency.

Without hesitation, Sunshine obeyed, disappearing into the small pendant hanging around my neck. As soon as she was safe, I darted off to hide among the nearby ruins, my heart pounding in my chest.

Crouched behind a slab of fallen stone, I tried to control my breathing and suppress my demonic energy as much as possible to avoid being discovered. The footsteps grew closer, stopping right where I had been standing previously.

What the fuck is this? I have never felt a sensation as terrifying as this. I don't even have to see whoever has this overwhelming presence to know that it's incredibly powerful. Much more powerful than me.

Still, my curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but peek out slightly from my hiding place to see who the bearer of such a fearsome presence was. My heart thudded loudly in my chest, afraid of what I might discover.

To my surprise, it wasn't a demon. Was the person in front of me... a

Human? W-What?

It was a handsome, tall man with white skin and long silver hair that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. But what shocked me the most were his eyes—they were ...red, just like mine.

W-Who is this guy?

My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the situation. I had never met or heard of anyone else with red eyes like mine.

The man appeared to be searching for something—or someone—his gaze sweeping over the ruins with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. I held my breath, praying he wouldn't notice me hiding there.

It doesn't look like he's Dagrol. He is not a demon, after all. But then, who is he? I doubt he is not hostile since he was inside the fortress, and now he seems to be hunting me. Does Dagrol know that I am here?

I dared not move, nor did I dare breathe, lest I give myself away.

As I continued to observe the silver-haired man, a flurry of memories and knowledge I had accumulated over the years flooded my mind. The tales of Zrephia I'd read as a child, the legends surrounding its royal family... It all started to click into place.

The books described Zrephian royalty as direct descendants of the goddess Imris, said to possess physical traits mirroring the goddess herself: skin as pale as marble, hair of shimmering silver and, most striking of all, crimson pupils.

The red eyes in particular, were the reason I attracted so much attention in Riledo and why the church was after me.

As I stared at the figure before me, there was no doubt in my mind—he embodied each of these traits. His astonishing presence and regal bearing leaving no room for question. He was a true descendant of Zrephian royalty.

However, even with him standing right in front of me, it was hard to believe. It was widely assumed that Zrephian royalty had become extinct along with the city hundreds of years ago. There was no way someone like him could still exist. But yet, here he was, defying all logic and reason. My heart raced in my chest as I struggled to come to grips with this revelation.

I wonder if Zaine can give me the answers of who he is once I free her.

As I continued to watch him, the silver-haired man seemed determined to find something—or me, more likely. I feel like engaging him in a fight would lead to my defeat, and I can't lose now that I'm so close to Zaine. I held my breath as he approached where I was hiding, his movements eerily graceful. His eyes scanned the area, his crimson gaze piercing the darkness like blood-stained daggers.

As the silver-haired man turned to walk away, I caught another glimpse of him and noticed something unsettling. The whites of his eyes were pitch-black, and dark veins stood out starkly across his skin, winding in sharp contrast along his body. Despite his movements, there was an unnatural stillness about him, a strange sense that he wasn't truly ...alive.

"Dox, who is he?" Sunshine whispered from within the medallion, her voice tinged with worry.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely audible, "But we need to keep our distance. He's dangerous."

"Understood," she replied, her tone filled with concern.

As the mysterious figure disappeared into the shadows, I exhaled slowly. I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was only the beginning. The stakes had risen, and the danger felt more palpable than ever before. I took a deep breath and carefully emerged from my hiding spot. My heart pounded as I kept my eyes locked on his retreating form.

"Darx, what if he comes back?" Sunshine asked, her voice quivering slightly.

"Stay quiet," I instructed her, "If we're discovered, we may not make it out alive."

She fell silent, understanding the gravity of our situation.

I continued moving slowly through the ruins, ensuring I didn't make any noise that would attract attention until we made our way toward the tower's base. It was a fairly tall white stone tower. I wonder how it still stands after so many years when everything else is destroyed. However, after analyzing it a little more, I get the impression that this tower is made of a stone different from everything else. Could it be that this tower was built after the city's destruction? Who knows...

The entrance was a double door made of some black metal. As I slipped inside, relief washed over me like a cool wave as the door creaked shut behind us. The darkness enveloped me, and I strained to adjust my vision to the dim light. Shadows danced around us, creating a haunting atmosphere magnified by the chilling silence.

"We made it inside," I whispered to Sunshine, "Zaine is somewhere in this tower."

"Do you want me to come out?" She replied, her voice barely audible.

"For now, stay inside. Your presence is quite intense, and we don't want to attract the attention of the silver-haired guy. But if for some reason he finds us, I will need your help to be able to confront him." I said.

The air inside the tower was cooler, laced with a faint, acrid smell reminiscent of decay and something else—something putrid. The dim light filtering through the cracks in the walls cast eerie shadows, making the interior feel like a tomb.

There's something unnatural about this place." I murmured.

I pressed forward, trying to follow Zaine's presence that felt closer than ever. My heart raced in anticipation, but I couldn't shake off the lingering sense of unease. As I climbed the winding stone staircase, I could feel Zaine's presence growing stronger. She was near, so near. I could sense it in the pit of my stomach. Yet, as I continued to explore the tower, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. My footsteps echoed in the dimly lit corridors, and my instincts screamed that something wasn't right. It was too easy to get to Zaine, apart from the encounter with the silver-haired man.

"Sunshine," I whispered, "I have a bad feeling about this. Keep your senses sharp."

"I was just thinking the same thing," She replied, her voice quivering slightly.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of searching, I found myself standing before a heavy door at the top of the winding staircase. The wood was worn and ancient, its surface marred by countless scratches and gouges. This had to be it—the room where Zaine was held captive.

I-I can feel it. She is on the other side.

I felt more nervous than I expected. Finally, the time has come to meet. I waited a long time for this moment.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open, the ancient hinges groaning in protest. The room beyond was dimly lit, filled with an eerie glow that illuminated the center—a large, circular chamber where the air felt thick and suffocating.

Passing through the door, my eyes finally landed on the still body of a chained woman. She was kneeling with her arms raised, held by chains. Her long hair cascaded over her face, obscuring her features just like in that world of darkness. There was no mistaking...

Gathering all the strength I could muster, I stepped forward. My voice barely above a whisper, laden with emotion, I called out her name.

"Zaine," I spoke, my heart pounding, "I'm here."